Don't Shake the Baby!

We've heard the whole "don't shake the baby" thing and as I watch Kyle playing with our little guy (8 months) I wonder... is "don't throw the baby" a rule too?

And we wonder why he is such a SPAZ!!! Below are a couple pictures from our trip to the beach over Christmas. Yes, it was cold! No, Kaden didn't care. And yes, he and all our kids had such a GREAT time! We did get a few observers wondering what this infant was doing half naked, with sand coming out his mouth and his diaper full of water (yes, that is water not pee) as he walked down the beach... well they didn't say that but they did point and ask how old he is. You will notice the dot of sand on his forehead from colapsing at the waist from excitement and hitting his head on the beach over and over. He LOVED every minute of it though and only cried when he would finally make it to the edge of the water and we picked him up and ran him back up the beach where he would go as fast as he could to get back. Poor little guy... someday he will be allowed to seek the thrills he so longs for. Until then I am in charge and i say I'm nice for allowing what I did.

click on the one below this to see his precious foot prints and a close up of the sandy face... so cute!

A Good and Perfect Gift!

Okay, so Adia turned 10 yesterday and I wanted to share with you a bit of my thoughts. But I am emotional just thinking about how to express my feelings so I am going to share a poem I wrote on her 3rd birthday that I probably rings more true now than ever...

Beautiful child your face is so pure.
You make me strive for the best.
I long to lead you to happiness
in the Father’s arms where you might rest.

Your smiles and laughter make my days.
Oh how your tears break my heart.
I’ve fallen in love so completely with you
It’s amazing that this is just the start.

I look at you and your beauty
completely on the inside and out
And then I catch a glimpse of true love
and almost understand what God’s all about.

God has blessed me deeply with you.
Oh the sunshine you bring to my life.
He has taught me so much with and through you
and even given me the chance to be my true loves wife.

I love you so much sweet baby girl.
You are a perfect treasure I do not deserve!
I promise you for the rest of my life
I will always be here to love you and to serve.

Happy Birthday Adia!

I Love You!

Well, that didn't help me avoid the emotions. Oh well. Thank you all for loving my little girl and being the special person you are in her life! Pray with us that God's strength will continue to make up for our weaknesses when raising her and that God will continue to draw her heart to His. If you want a good cry listen to the song I added and think about your little blessings. I want you to know if you are a mom in my life (not my mom just a mom) that I pray for you too. What a privelage to be entrusted with our children's lives and heart and I pray that we all find much joy in raising them... even though I know it can be so hard at times.

Baby Problems

Do you think God ever laughs at us? I'm beginning to think Kaden is God's way of entertaining Himself. I was just thinking about the fact that my baby has the coordination of a one year old and the brains of a 7 month old boy and how that is so not a good combination! There is a reason why babies are not supposed to be so physically able. This is not the worst of situations Kaden's coordination has got him into (or even close) but Adia snapped these pictures last week and they gave me a giggle tonight so I thought I would share.

Yes, he needs his diaper changed and I don't remember the day or time of this picture but it is quite possible that so does Adison, Kenyon has a bloody nose, Adia needs help with school, Kyle is expecting a nice dinner in 30 minutes and Adison is having a tantrum on the floor due to the fact that I said "no" or I guess I could be on the phone with Stacey (my sister) and just haven't noticed. You pick... either option is very likely to be the cause of the way too full diaper. Oops!

It's Begining To Look A Lot Like Christmas!

WARNING: this may be my longest post ever but for the sake of memories and using this blog as a journal please understand.

First Christmas tradition of the season... cutting down our tree. Well in the past it was more like we went and looked at the trees you can cut down, mom doesn't like any, then we drive to Home Depot and get a nice big Noble Fir, put it IN the Suburban and that is where I get the pine needles you can always find in my car from Dec. - Mar. This year was different. We found a BIG beautiful Douglas Fir at the prettiest little family run Christmas Tree Farm,

while drinking hot cocoa (Mountain Dew if you are the dad),

playing hide and go seek (do you see Kyle and Adison?),

and then we put it in the back of the truck (yeah) to take it home!

Second, we have our annual Family Christmas Tree Party on the first Sunday of Advent. First everyone opens a present, which just happens to be Christmas Pajamas every year,

Then we get our new annual ornaments (dad picks one for each kid that reminds us of them... this year this is what they got: Adia-big monkey bathing little monkey, Avery- Princess, Kenyon - Spiderman, Adison- Nemo characters and Kaden got a Superman Onesie)

then the kiddos watch a movie while mom does the lights on the tree, then those who stayed awake got to help decorate with ornaments (normally after the tree is all done we have a slumber party with it but since everyone had already fallen asleep Kyle and I decided not to give up our precious bed which caused Adia to come in our room at 2am crying about how the slumber party wasn't fun since we left her alone... oops!),

Third we invite over some dear friends to celebrate the birth of our King and have a wonderful time eating, playing games, singing Happy Birthday to Jesus and just enjoying each other! The families in these pictures are in our small group (some beg to differ that we are a small group due to us having 14 kids between the 3 of us so you could call us a bible study but we need to work on the whole bible part to really take on that term) from church. They are some of God's greatest gifts to our family this year as we so enjoy each and every member of their families and feel so blessed to call them friends! Oh and it is kind of funny that one of their last names is my maiden name (Howell) and one if them has my Grandma's maiden name (Disney)... weird huh?

Okay, now it feels like Christmas! I hope you are all enjoying this wonderful season and finding ways to keep the focus on the Birthday Boy who came to die so that we might live... what better reason to spend a whole month in celebration!!!!

Thanksgiving Week

Thanksgiving week was wonderful and full of much more than just a nice dinner with my family in San Jose. We are so blessed and the week was full of wonderful things to be grateful for. It included...

Kyle and I committing to do our best to raise our kids to know, love and serve God (getting blessed) as well as our church family committing to supporting us.

Goofing off with dad

Learning new games (I rock but nobody took my picture!)

Falling asleep at the table

Teaching our new fondant cookie tricks to the family (thanks for teaching me Glory)

Trying new things

Turning the garage into another play room

Laughing at mom because I learned to walk (at 7 months and 1 week) and made her cry

Celebrating cousins birthdays with them

Eating Thanksgiving dinner

Taking lots of pictures

Ice skating with family

Loving on Papa

Doing some of Adia's favorite things

Catching up with old friends (missed you Kelly, Johnny and Lindsey)

Watching inappropriate movies and getting hurt trying to do what we see("Hulk Smash")

I hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving week as well and let us not forget that, even though life can be super rough at times, we are super blessed!